The following U.S. intelligence report on the ammunition for the
German 380-mm(15-in) spigot mortar
(Schwerer Ladungswerfer) was originally published
in Tactical and Technical Trends,
No. 35, October 7, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department
publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime
intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No
attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or
opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

380-MM SPIGOT MORTAR BOMB

Some details of the ammunition for the 380-mm(15-in) Spigot Mortar
(Schwerer Ladungswerfer) are now available. Both smoke and HE bombs are fired
by this weapon, but the following data refers to the HE bomb.

German name

38-cm Wurfgranate 40

Total weight

331 lb

Bursting charge

110 lb

Maximum diameter

15 in

Length overall

4 ft 11 in

Length of bomb

2 ft 3/4 in

Fuze

Wgr. Z 36, a standard percussion nose fuze as used in German mortar bombs.

Gaine*

Zdlg. C/98 Np., a standard gain containing Penthrite.

Propellant

There are two charges contained in cloth bags in an adaptor fitted with an
electric primer. The propellant is known as Gudol, (see
Tactical
and Technical Trends, No. 31, p. 37) and is a flashless
double-base propellant containing nitroguanidine. Weights are as
follows: Charge I, 385 grams (13.56 oz); Charge II,
175 grams (6.19 oz).